Categories
Kuwait

Xenophobia in Kuwait

mcdonaldswoman

There is a video that has been circulating via whatsapp of a woman dressed in full Kuwait national day gear (screenshot above) at a McDonalds hurling insults at an employee. The woman who seems to be a local citizen verbally abuses the employee calling him names and demeaning him in front of everyone over what seems to be a misunderstanding.

Many readers have emailed me requesting to share the video which I would usually do because it’s news worthy in a tabloid sort of way but, I’m not sure I can do so without legally getting in trouble since the woman in the video is recognizable.

Anyway, here is my opinion on the video. This woman obviously doesn’t represent the majority or even minority of Kuwaitis. From the way she’s dressed and the insults she’s throwing I don’t think she’s even mentally stable. It’s just a one off situation similar to those random homeless people you run into in New York subways who talk to themselves and hurl insults randomly at strangers.

On the other hand one reader sent the following email which I thought I would share:

Being a Kuwaiti man, I am insulted by the behavior of some Kuwaitis over behavior like this:

Please do something about it. I truly believe this behavior needs to be made example of. A few years ago, a woman who threw her Kuwaiti passport on the ground to get a message across was made into an example of after social media widely spread her video. Such behavior that is displayed in this video needs to be stopped as well and it will if social media does the same thing to her.

I do agree that there should be consequences to her actions but again I don’t think this behavior or at least behavior this extreme is common. For those of you who’ve watched the video what are your thoughts on this?




Categories
Information

Kuwait Towers Still Not Open

The other day I shared an article from KUNA stating the Kuwait Towers were opening on February 25th. According to a couple of readers who visited the towers, that article was incorrect and the towers are still closed. But, according to a security guard at the towers, they will be opening on March 10th.




Categories
Videos

Drone Footage of the Kuwait Towers Light Show

I love this, it looks like something out of Blade Runner. They should definitely consider keeping these lights on the towers permanently. [YouTube]

drone




Categories
Videos

#NewYorkLovesKuwait

“The 32 Balloon Journey #NewYorkLovesKuwait” is a collaborative project by three Kuwaiti New Yorkers, Alyamamah Al Awadhi, Mohammad Al Mashaan, and Razan Al Sarraf. In the video they glide through the city of New York, celebrating the National and Liberation holidays in Kuwait. [YouTube]

ny




Categories
Music Videos

Dedicated to Kuwait on the Occasion of the National Holidays by Expats

The music video above is dedicated to the people of Kuwait from the expats of Kuwait (the remaining expats who still haven’t been deported). The video features a bunch of talented expats including a few I know like Monstariam and Basil Al Hadi. Check it out above. [YouTube]

kuwaitmusicvideo




Categories
News

Kuwait Towers to Re-Open Today

kuwaittowers

The Kuwait Towers which have been closed since 2012 are set to reopen today, coinciding with National Day and Liberation Day. If anyone gets a chance to pass by before I’m back in Kuwait, please let me know if they’ve changed anything on the inside. [Link]




Categories
Events Things to do

Things to do in Kuwait this Weekend

A pretty quiet weekend this week most likely because many people will be traveling for the national holidays. I’m out of town as well so glad to know I won’t be missing out on much. Check out this weekends events below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Al-Seef
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Wonho Chung Comedy Night
Kuwait Flight Academy Open Day
Rooftop Movie: Enemy

Friday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Wonho Chung Comedy Night

Saturday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Wonho Chung Comedy Night
AWARE Desert Camp
Rooftop Movie: Lars and The Real Girl

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]




Categories
News

Kuwait Moves Up in the World Press Freedom Index

pressindex

The 2015 edition of the World Press Freedom Index is out and Kuwait is up a spot from last year and still leading in our region.

90 – Kuwait
98 – Lebanon
101 – Israel
115 – Qatar
120 – United Arab Emirates
127 – Oman
156 – Iraq
163 – Bahrain
164 – Saudi Arabia

90th place isn’t Kuwait’s highest ranking, in 2009 Kuwait had come in 60th place. Check out the full index [Here]




Categories
Events Things to do

Things to do in Kuwait this Weekend

This is another super busy weekend but hopefully the weather gets better since most of the events are outdoors. My personal picks for this weekend would be The Kuwait Riders Bike Show and The Yard Outdoor Movie Night for Thursday. For Friday I would do the Concours d’Elegance and Snodrops Market. On Saturday I would do the K’S PATH 10th Anniversary Open Day followed by Saturday Night Lights in The Secret Garden at night. Check out the full list of events for this weekend below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Al-Seef
Exhibition: Van Leo – Master Cairo Portrait Photographer
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance
Kuwait Riders 5th Bike Show
The Yard Outdoor Movie Night
Rooftop Movie: Macbeth

Friday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance
Kuwait Riders 5th Bike Show
Food Styling and Photography Workshop
Snodrops Market
Book Club Meeting

Saturday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance
Kuwait Riders 5th Bike Show
Food Styling and Photography Workshop
Guided Tour: Grand Mosque
K’S PATH 10th Anniversary Open Day
Madeenah Tour: City on Display
Dhow Sunset Dinner Cruise
Saturday Night Lights in The Secret Garden
Valentine’s Day Charity Concert
Nuqat Film Screening: Stories From Kuwait
Rooftop Movie: Dr. Strangelove

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]




Categories
Information Kuwait

Most of Kuwait in the Dark #halablackout

dark

The electricity went off around Kuwait awhile ago around 7:30PM. At first I thought it was just my neighborhood Salmiya but from twitter it looks like the affected areas so far are:

Mishref, Salmiya, Salwa, Surra, Da3iya, Qadsiya, Bayan, Sabah Al-Salem, Mahboula, Jabriya, Riggai, Mubarak Al Kabeer, Fintas, Mangaf, Abu Halifa, Shaab, Hawalli, Arabella and The Avenues.

No idea what caused the blackout but if you’re in the dark and your area isn’t mentioned above let me know. #halablackout




Categories
Cars & Bikes Technology

Google Maps Reporting Accidents in Kuwait

accident

Is this feature new? My brother noticed it a couple of weeks back and my friend told me about it yesterday.




Categories
Events Things to do

Things to do in Kuwait this Weekend

baytlothan

This weekend might be the busiest yet with so much going on. My personal picks are the 1001 Inventions Exhibition, the KLL Yard Sale because I like yard sales, the Open Mic night, Qout Market and the Madeenah Tour. Photographers might be interested in the motocross KMX Race Day event taking place on Saturday since there will be a ton of photo ops. Check out the full list of events taking place this weekend below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Al-Seef
Exhibition: The Replacement by Mahmoud Obaidi
Exhibition: Van Leo – Master Cairo Portrait Photographer
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Al-Mubarakiya Festival
Kuwait Yacht Show 2015
Works of Art by the Indian Women’s Association
Rooftop Movie: Before Sunrise

Friday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Al-Mubarakiya Festival
Kuwait Yacht Show 2015
Works of Art by the Indian Women’s Association
KLL Yard Sale
Open Mic at Bayt Lothan

Saturday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Al-Mubarakiya Festival
Kuwait Yacht Show 2015
Qout Market
The Secret Garden Project
The North Face Challenge Race 2015
KMX Race Day
Workshop: Introduction to Figure Sculpting
Madeenah Tour: Bneid Al Gar
Rooftop Movie: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]




Categories
Cars & Bikes Events

The Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance

concour

The Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance will be taking place next week starting from February 11th and last till February 18th. The Concours d’ Elegance first came to Kuwait back in 2010.

What is the Concours d’Elegance?
Concours is a French word meaning competition. The concept of Concours originates in 17th C. France when aristocrats used to choose their best horse carriages to parade around parks of Paris during the summer week ends and holidays. Later these traditions changed to automobiles from the 20th C. Concours today have strict regulations and cars are inspected by qualified judges. Trophy winners are carefully chosen.

A reader sent me the full schedule of events that are taking place that week, if you’re interested in checking it out click [Here]




Categories
Kuwait

Kuwait Towers are Trippy

Have you guys passed by the Kuwait Towers at night? I kinda love how the towers now have some pretty trippy graphics animated on them. The video above kind of gives you a glimpse of how they look like but its actually even cooler in real life especially with the 70s style kaleidoscope effect. I’m kinda hoping this isn’t just a temporary thing for Hala February but something they’ll keep for a bit longer. [Vimeo]

towers-kuwait




Categories
Travel

Inside the New Kuwait Airways Planes and Airport Lounge


[YouTube]

Last month Kuwait Airways started receiving their first batch of leased planes and alongside these planes, Kuwait Airways have also gone ahead and given their premium class checking area a facelift as well as the Dasman Lounge.


[YouTube]

In the first video on top we get to the see the business class and economy class of the new planes as well as a tour of the new media system. In the second video we get taken on a tour of the new check in area followed by a tour of the lounge. Both the plane interiors and the lounge look outdated to me but I guess its better than what we had.

plane-kuwait-airways